'Love' is postal tradition

"Love is Sweeping the Country" is the title of a melody written many years ago by Rodgers and Hart.

The U.S. Postal Service has been playing this love theme by portraying it on its stamps regularly since 1973. And the 2003 program continues in a heartbeat with a special stamped envelope featuring a love theme for release Jan 25. The denomination is 37 cents.

It follows more than 25 designs that have appeared on U.S. stamps and envelopes since the first "Love" stamps of 30 years ago. The first one had a denomination of 8 cents and portrayed an iconic design by pop artist Robert Indiana.

The new stamped envelope design depicts a silhouetted gardener watering plants to represent the nurturing quality of love. The gardener, wearing tall boots and a sun hat, waters two plants that respond to his tender, loving care by reaching up and creating a leafy heart with their curving stems.

U.S. stamps in their continuing love story, have pictured swans, Victorian lace, modern art, flowers, animals, cherubs and love letters.

Last year the Postal Service released two additions to the love series — a 37-cent stamp and a 60-center showing an abstract design. The 37-cent denomination is good for the first class 1-ounce letter rate, and the other, at 60 cents, is for mailing heavier items such as wedding invitations, announcements and RSVPs.

In 2001, the theme was "love letters." A 34-cent stamp pictured a red rose superimposed on the script of a handwritten letter by John Adams to Abigail Smith on April 20, 1763 during their courtship. A 55-cent stamp had a similar design but featured a letter by Abigail to John on Aug. 11, 1763. They were married in 1764. Adams became president of the United States in 1797.

In 1999, the USPS issued a pair of love stamps featuring Victorian hearts. They were the first-ever die-cut stamps in U.S. postal history. The values were 37 cents and 55 cents. The word "love" was not used on the stamps but rather the universal symbol of love — a heart in a floral arrangement was pictured.

Yes, love makes the stamp world go round, too.

Reptiles and amphibians have fascinated human observers for centuries. So, if you are interested and missed it, last year the Postal Service issued five new 37-cent stamps featuring two amphibians and three reptiles native to the United States — the blue-spotted salamander, the ornate chorus frog, the reticulate collared lizard, the ornate box turtle and the scarlet king snake.

These stamps are still available through the USPS Fulfillment Services by calling (800) STAMP-24.

Here's a reminder of importance from the Postal Service to customers. The USPS delivers six days a week to 138 million homes and businesses. However, unsafe conditions such as unshoveled snow, icy sidewalks or even snow plowed against mailboxes can slow delivery.

Letter carriers are instructed to refrain from delivering to locations they deem hazardous. So, says the USPS, keep access to your mailbox clear.